2012 porsche cayenne Model Overview

After winning our 2011 Motor Trend SUV of the Year competition, Porsche has continued to make minor changes to its 2012 Cayenne SUV. New exterior options include black headlight surrounds, tinted taillamps, and sports exhaust pipes; interior options include new seat stitching, Yachting Mahogany interior trim, and illuminated steel door sills. 2012 Cayenne Turbos also get a new ceramic brake option, and a new power package, that boosts output to 540 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque.

The Porsche Cayenne includes many standard features like all-wheel drive, and an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard equipment on all trim levels but the Cayenne, which comes standard with a six-speed manual. Porsche offers four different engines for the Cayenne. 2012 Porsche Cayenne buyers have the choice of a 3.6-liter 300-hp and 295 lb-ft of torque V-6, a 4.8-liter V-8 that produces 400 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, a 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 and electric motor hybrid that’s good for 380-hp and 427 lb-ft of torque, and a 4.8-liter twin-turbo 500-hp and 516 lb-ft of torque V-8, that’s capable of 540-hp and 553 lb-ft of torque with the optional power package.

Inside, the Cayenne rides and drives like a tall sports sedan. The interior features a cockpit-like design with an exceptionally high level of refinement that includes standard leather seating, and well thought out control placement.

Porsche has a few changes in store for the 2012 Cayenne. A year after earning the golden calipers in our 2011 Motor Trend SUV of the Year competition, the Cayenne now gets a multitude of new options. Black headlight surrounds, tinted tail lamps, sports exhaust pipes, new seat stitching, Yachting Mahogany interior trim, and illuminated steel door sills are all new options. Lane Change Assist is also available. The 2012 Porsche Cayenne Turbo also has two new packages – the Power Kit, which boosts power from 500 to 540 hp, and to slow things down, the optional Ceramic Brakes are now larger.

In a class that’s dominated by boxes on wheels, the 2012 Porsche Cayenne stands out for being a rather curvaceous SUV, one that’s unmistakably a Porsche. The German automaker has made a few minor exterior changes to the 2012 Cayenne. All model designations and Porsche logos are now in chrome and wheel arch extensions in body color. Black headlight surrounds, tinted tail lamps, sports exhaust pipes, as well as new finishes for the Cayenne’s wheels are now available. For 2012 Porsche has discontinued the color Sand Yellow, replaced Sand White with White, and added Carmine Red.

The 2012 Porsche Cayenne features Porsche’s high rising center console design that first debuted on the Carrera GT before proliferating to the Panamera, Cayenne, and now 911 Carrera. The high center console design gives the Cayenne a cockpit-like interior. For 2012 Porsche has made a few changes to the Cayenne’s interior. All Cayennes now get a higher-quality carpet in the cargo area and on the rear seatbacks. New options include new seat stitching, Yachting Mahogany interior trim, and illuminated steel door sills. A digital g meter display is now available as well.

As expected in any vehicle wearing the Porsche badge, performance is a priority. All models come standard with all-wheel drive, and all save the base Cayenne come standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission; a six-speed manual is standard on the Cayenne, with the eight-speed slushbox an available add-on. The base Cayenne is powered by a 3.6-liter 300-hp and 295 lb-ft of torque V-6. The Cayenne S gets a 4.8-liter V-8 that produces 400 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The Cayenne S Hybrid is powered by a 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 and electric motor combo that’s good for 380-hp and 427 lb-ft of torque. The Cayenne Turbo is powered by a 4.8-liter twin-turbo 500-hp and 516 lb-ft of torque V-8. Cayenne Turbo buyers who opt for the power pack get new turbochargers that boost power up to 540 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque.

The 2012 Porsche Cayenne includes standard safety features you’d expect in a high-power SUV designed to handle Germany’s autobahns. The Cayenne is constructed from lightweight steel, and features side- and cross-members designed to channel energy from an accident away from the cabin. The Cayenne’s interior is also protected by super high-strength steel and side-intrusion beams. Inside, the Cayenne also gets front driver and passenger airbags, side airbags in each seat (front standard, optional in back), and side-curtain airbags. The Cayenne also includes rollover detection sensors, as well as your standard suite of ABS, TPMS, ESC, and TC.

2012 Porsche Cayenne Pricing

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price

$48,200

Certified Pre Owned Pricewhat is this?

$33,075

Certified Pre-Owned Price is the approximate price a consumer can expect to pay at a dealership for a used vehicle that has passed the manufacturer's certification process. This price applies only to vehicles covered under an automaker's CPO program, not to a dealership's own "certified" used price.

Recalls

Recall ID#12V065000 - EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Consequence

A DETACHED HEADLIGHT COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VISIBILITY AND AN INCREASED RISK OF A CRASH.

Recall Date

2012-02-21

Description

PORSCHE IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CAYENNE, CAYENNE S, CAYENNE S HYBRID, AND CAYENNE TURBO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 8, 2010, THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2012 BECAUSE THE HEADLAMPS MAY COME LOOSE AND DETACH FROM THE FENDER.

Remedy

PORSCHE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP LOCKING ASSEMBLIES, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-767-7243.

Units Affected

20278

Recall ID#15V016000 - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

Consequence

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increasea the risk of a fire.

IF THE SHAFT FRACTURES, OIL MAY BE DRAWN INTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, RESULTING IN SMOKE AND THE INCREASED RISK OF A FIRE.

Recall Date

2012-07-12

Description

PORSCHE IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 PANAMERA TURBO, 2012 PANAMERA TURBO S, AND 2012 CAYENNE TURBO VEHICLES. THE TURBINE WHEEL OF A TURBOCHARGER MAY FRACTURE DUE TO A CASTING DEFECT. IF A FRACTURE OCCURS, VEHICLE PERFORMANCE WILL BE DECREASED AND THE TURBINE SHAFT MAY FRACTURE.

Remedy

PORSCHE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TURBINE WHEELS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 31, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-767-7243.

Units Affected

270

Recall ID#16V169000 - SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

Consequence

If the brake pedal dislodges, the driver may not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Date

2016-03-23

Description

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Cayenne vehicles manufactured April 28, 2010, to January 11, 2016. The brake pedal pivot pin may be missing a circlip, allowing the pivot pin to move and the brake pedal to dislodge.

Remedy

Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal assembly circlip, installing any missing circlips, free of charge. The recall began on July 8, 2016. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AG02.

2012 Porsche Cayenne News and Reviews

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A few updates ago, I noted that the Cayenne's hybrid drivetrain was rather clunky in heavy traffic that has you constantly on and off the throttle. Not to worry, I said, Porsche has a software update out that should take care of it. I've since had it installed under warranty, and the results are in.And they're not much to talk…

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